Delegate-elect Danica Roem is just a few weeks away from being sworn in to the Virginia House of Delegates, which will make her the first openly-transgender person to serve in any state legislature in the country. She says she was able to win her seat by being “unabashedly” herself, having a strong team, and sticking to core issues. “Be who you are and be that well,” Roem said. “Champion the things that are near and dear to you, and go win.” Roem, a Democrat, expressed concerns about the Republican tax plan, specifically its impact on state and local tax deductions. She says that if SALT deductions go away, people will now have to pay an extra tax to the government. She encourages constituents to organize and to read the GOP’s Tax Bill once it’s out. Roem told Cheddar that if the bill is “as bad as we anticipate,” the people need to “raise hell and win.” “There’s so many issues that directly affect people’s lives, and also affect our localities’ ability to raise money, and affect the state government’s ability to raise money, ” she said. Still, Roem says that she will be seeking out support from Republican counterparts and from Republican voters alike. While she foresees disagreement over topics like medicaid expansion, she does hope to be able to work with Republicans to impact other legislations, such as infrastructure issues. For full interview [click here.] (https://cheddar.com/videos/danica-roems-advice-for-anyone-who-wants-to-make-a-difference)
